But according to US government statistics, Afghanistan's dismal rate of infant mortality, a basic indicator of a country's development, has shown no sign of improvement.

NPR: With Vote Looming, Afghans Look for Progress

He said the union had published research which showed that free school meals act as a "a broad and basic indicator, which doesn't account for issues like levels of deprivation, ethnicity, and per pupil funding", all of which had an impact.

BBC: GCSE attainment gap is revealed